NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The topic of the moment for Taylor Swift? Songwriting.

The pop star, 23, was honored during the weekend for a record sixth time as songwriter-artist of
the year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

And she is six months into the writing process for her next album, with a release date yet to be
set.

Q: Next month, you will start a stadium tour of Australia — making you the first female solo
performer to tour the country since Madonna 20 years ago. Madonna was considered the top pop star
in the world at the time. Do you see yourself as such a pop star?

A: I would never see myself that way. I see myself as kind of this girl who writes songs in her
bedroom.

Q: You are nominated again for entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards,
to be announced on Nov. 6. Should you claim the honor, you would become the first woman with three
wins — passing Barbara Mandrell. What do you think?

A: I think winning entertainer of the year would be an unbelievable thing to happen in my life
because I still sometimes can’t believe I’ve gotten to win that twice.

So a third time — what I think it would mean for my fans would be the biggest feeling I would
have.

Q: For your next album, what types of songs do you plan?

A: It’s too early to tell who are going to be my predominant collaborators, but I do know that
my absolute dream collaborators were Shellback and Max Martin on the last project.

I’ve never been so challenged as a songwriter. I’ve never learned so much. ... I love people who
have endless strange and exciting ideas about where music can go.